The Phillies have been red hot, winning eight of their last ten and taking two of three from the New York Mets this past weekend at Citizens Bank Park to claim the top spot in the NL East. Their offense has been firing on all cylinders, providing consistent production up and down the lineup.
However, as the All-Star break approaches, one question still lingers—both among fans and, likely, within the clubhouse: When will No. 3 return to the lineup? When can the team expect to see two-time NL MVP Bryce Harper back on the field?
Fans may recall that Harper was placed on the injured list with right wrist inflammation on Saturday, June 7, retroactive to the previous day, Friday, June 6.
While there is still no clear timetable for his return, Harper has begun ramping up baseball activities—an encouraging sign for the Phillies. According to Paul Casella of MLB.com, Harper took 20 swings off a tee and played catch in the outfield on Friday, June 20.
“Felt good today,” Harper shared after swinging on Friday. “I felt better than I thought it was [going to], so I’m happy about that.”
On Saturday, prior to the Phillies-Mets game, Harper progressed to soft toss—another encouraging step in his recovery.
The following evening, John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia tweeted: “Bryce Harper says on the ESPN broadcast he took 45 swings today and 45 swings yesterday. He says it would be great if he could come back in the next 10 days but he says it’s early in the process.”
Manager Rob Thomson hopes Harper will progress to taking batting practice in the cages on either Tuesday or Wednesday this week, according to Destiny Lugardo of Phillies Nation.
Unfortunately, there remains no definitive answer as to why Harper continues to experience inflammation in his right wrist. He explained, “…There’s no structural issues, like I won’t need surgery or anything like that. We’ve talked to multiple doctors, but just a lot of inflammation in that area.”
Without a clear explanation for the lingering inflammation, it’s fair to wonder whether it could flare up again down the stretch—potentially during a critical playoff push.
Another question fans may be wondering is whether the Phillies will send him on a brief minor-league rehab assignment, or if the eight-time All-Star will simply be reinserted into the big-league lineup once he feels ready to return.
While Phillies fans still don’t have a clear timetable for their superstar’s return, signs remain encouraging as Harper continues to ramp up his baseball activity—especially if he progresses to taking batting practice this week.
Though Harper appears hopeful to return before the All-Star break, which begins Monday, July 14, his availability will likely depend on pain management and when the discomfort subsides enough for him to compete on a daily basis.
The Phillies will open a three-game series against the Astros in Houston on Tuesday.
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